World Reviewer rating

Humpback migration, Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay calls itself the whale watching capital of the world, which may be an overstatement, but it is definitely one of the most popular whale watching spots. It’s on the migration route for Humpbacks between the cold waters of the Antarctic and the warmer tropical waters off Queensland where they calve. Part of the spots popularity must be due to the calves and mums on their way home.

Humpbacks are the whale world's most playful and most vocal, and this is one of a whale's most frisky times, so the frolicking, breaching and tail and fin slapping that people enjoy seeing happens here frequently. Humpbacks are also huge - the worlds fifth largest animal. I read statistics saying they're the size of twelve elephants.

There are a lot of companies operating in this small area and the bay can be busy. The marine park is also home to dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles.